SEVENTY new jobs are set to be created by the city council to help boost Leicester’s local economy in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The jobs – which will be particularly aimed at young people and those from vulnerable backgrounds – are highlighted in Leicester City Council’s new Economic Recovery Plan, which has just been published online.
As part of the plan, 30 new 12-month Kickstart posts will be created at the city council, targeting people from vulnerable backgrounds. Kickstart is a government initiative for 18-24 year-olds. It creates a subsidy for employers to take people on. The new Kickstart posts could be across any of the council’s service areas.
The city council will also be recruiting an additional 30 apprentices and 10 new graduate project officers for various roles. Again, these could be across any of the council’s service areas, but with a particular focus on the city’s ‘green’ agenda.
The jobs are not ready to be advertised yet, but it is hoped the vacancies will start coming onstream in the new year. They will be released over a period of several months, rather than all at the same time.
The Economic Recovery Plan lists the ideas and actions the council and its partners are developing to help ensure Leicester’s local economy, jobs market and businesses can remain resilient in these tough times, ready to come back stronger than ever.
As well as creating the new roles at the city council, other actions outlined in the plan include:
- The formation of a ‘Leicester Board’ of organisations that will champion economic recovery and use their influence to help the city recover. Members include the city council, the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP), local NHS organisations and trusts, the city’s two universities and Leicestershire police.
- Launching a new online investment platform to encourage new businesses into Leicester
- Promoting the city as a great place to live and work
- Making sure businesses can get grant money from central Government quickly
- Improving the performance and image of the local textiles sector, with a plan to prioritise investment in a textiles training initiative to help raise standards
- Promoting local buying and procurement to help the local economy
- Improvements to Leicester’s museums and the launch of a major new tourism campaign to encourage visitors into the city
- Working with voluntary and community groups to help vulnerable communities to recover and develop new skills
- Supporting the development of green jobs to help tackle the climate emergency.
City mayor Peter Soulsby said: “We know how tough it has been for everyone during the coronavirus crisis – and unfortunately these tough times aren’t over yet. Some people have been disproportionately affected – such as young people, vulnerable people, and small businesses. It is groups like these that we particularly need to focus on as we look to boost our local economy.
“Obviously, we need Government help, and we continue to lobby for this, but we are also determined to lead by example, which is why we are creating these new opportunities. We must use every tool at our disposal to make a positive difference to local people and our economy.
“Leicester has always been an optimistic and forward-looking city, and I am confident that this plan will allow us to build on our assets so that we can come through this stronger than ever.”
Assistant city mayor Cllr Danny Myers, who leads on jobs and skills, added: “As well as 70 new jobs with the city council, we’re establishing a Leicester Board with our partners as a basis for collective action. Together, these organisations have considerable spending and buying power, so we need to use this to the advantage of Leicester. These new jobs are just the beginning – we are also working on plans for more training, skills and apprenticeships opportunities.
“We are responding to a period of rapid change, and know that there are tough times ahead, with rising unemployment. That’s why we are also advocating ‘future-proofed’ jobs in sustainable sectors, as well as exploring the potential for jobs in green industries, that will help us to tackle the pressing climate emergency.
“In this way, we hope to embed fairer, sustainable work and jobs into our local economy.”
The Economic Recovery Plan can be read here: https://www.leicester.gov.uk/your-council/city-mayor-peter-soulsby/key-strategy-documents/
Businesses can find out more about the support available to them at: https://www.leicester.gov.uk/your-council/coronavirus/advice-and-support-for-businesses/
Leicester Employment Hub, a city council initiative which works directly with employers and jobseekers to offer a range of jobs, placements, apprenticeships and traineeships, is at www.leicesteremploymenthub.co.uk
Sign up for job alerts with Leicester City Council at https://jobs.leicester.gov.uk/
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